This done, he sente twentie horsemen, twoo hundred Spaniardes, and many _Indians_ vnto _Zacatami_ and _Xalaxinco_, whiche were townes subiect to the _Mexicans_, and placed in the high way to _Vera Crux_, who had slayne certaine Spaniardes passyng that way. This company wente thither, with their accustomed protestations, whiche preuayled not, wherevpon followed fire and spoyle: many Gentlemen and other principall persons came to yéelde themselues to _Cortes_, more for feare than for good will, crauyng pardon for theyr offence, promising also not to offende agayne, nor yet at any tyme to take armour agaynst the Spaniardes. _Cortes_ pardoned them, & then hys armie returned, with determination to kéepe his Christmasse in _Tlaxcallan_, whiche was within twelue dayes followyng. He left a Captaine with thrée score Spaniards in the newe towne of _Segura_, to kéepe that passage, and also to put in feare the _Comarcans_ that dwelled thereabout: he sente before him his whole armie, and he himself went with twentie horsemen from thence to _Coliman_ to lodge there that night, being a cittie of his allied friendes, and there to ordaine and make by hys auctoritie, bothe Noble men and Captaynes in lue of them whiche died with the disease of small pockes. He aboade there thrée dayes, in the whiche the newe Lordes were ordeyned, who afterwardes remayned his especiall friendes. The nexte day hée came _Tlaxcallan_, beyng sixe leagues distant from thence, where he was triumphantly receyued. And truely at that time he made a iourney most worthie of renowne and glory. At this season his déere friende _Maxixca_ was departed this transitorie lyfe, for whome he mourned clothed in blacke, after the Spanishe fashion: he lefte behinde him certaine sonnes, of whom the eldest was .xij. yéeres of age, whome _Cortes_ named and appoynted for Lorde of his fathers estate, and the commons did certifie it to appertaine vnto him. This was no small glory for _Cortes_ to giue estates, and also to take them away at his pleasure, yea and that those _Indians_ should haue him in suche feare and respect, that none durste doe any thyng in acceptyng the inheritaunce of their fathers without his good will and licence. Now _Cortes_ procured that euery man shoulde make his harneys, weapons and prouision readie and in good order: he made also great haste in building Vergantines, for his timber was already cutte and seasoned: he sente vnto _Vera Crux_ for sayles, tacle, nayles, roapes and other necessarie things, whereof there was store remaynyng of the furniture of the shippes that were sunke. And hauyng wante of pitche, for in that countrey the _Indians_ knewe not what it meant, he commaunded certayne of his Mariners to make the same in the highe Mountaynes where was store of Pine trées, and not farre from the cittie. The Vergantines that Cortez commaunded _to be built, and the Spaniardes which he had ioyned togither to besiege Mexico_.